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Bloomberg’s Washington footprint explodes

Bloomberg’s various entities spent roughly $1 million on federal lobbying in 2012. And the spending isn’t likely to recede anytime soon.

(Bloomberg’s eponymous firm, Bloomberg LP, which he stepped back from running when he became mayor in 2001, spent $600,000 in the first nine months of 2012 on its own issues, which usually relate to business. New York City doesn’t hire outside lobbyists, but issues for Goldstein’s team include the Sept. 11 memorial and the federal budget. The mayor’s philanthropic foundation doesn’t lobby, but handles a separate set of issues such as public health.)

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Still, while his guns initiative has received the most publicity, Bloomberg’s interests are much more varied and have created an unprecedented national footprint for a mayor and billionaire.

Bloomberg and his allies have formed a series of nonprofits, including Building for America’s Future, which is focused on the country’s infrastructure and most recently put its efforts behind obtaining federal funds after Sandy; Partnership for a New American Economy, which is pushing immigration reform; and Freedom to Marry Action Inc., a group supporting gay marriage. Bloomberg has given more than $1 billion collectively to his alma matter, The Johns Hopkins University, news outlets reported last weekend.

Bloomberg doesn’t leave it all to his lobbyists and third party groups — he worked the phones aggressively during the battle for Sandy aid, for instance, and made a trip to Washington to personally plead for help.

“The mayor of the city of New York gets great visibility,” Bloomberg said. “Being sort of nonpartisan gives you an access to both sides. Being willing to do fundraisers and give money is not without its benefits. I can’t tell you that they all jump when I call, but they do take the call. And you can go and give them a presentation and make your case. And then some I support because I respect them as human beings even though I don’t agree with them at all.”

“We had the mayor come down and meet with a lot of key appropriators as well as leadership and really … set the stage early on” for the requests for aid, said Goldstein, referring to Bloomberg’s trip to Washington in November, after the storm.

“He was very clear: ‘I’m not trying to get extra — I’m a taxpayer, too, and I want to be careful with taxpayer money,’” she added.

Bloomberg has been equally vocal about immigration reform, teaming up with News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and speaking repeatedly with lawmakers like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Bloomberg is familiar with arguments that these are sideshows for a three-term mayor entering his final year.

“Some people say, ‘Oh you shouldn’t be in Washington, you should be here,’ he said. “Yeah, and then they want the money from Washington. Why do you think we get the money?”